Playback system, recording medium, and playback control method

ABSTRACT

A playback system includes a display device and an information terminal adapted to communicate with the display device. The information terminal includes a processor and a recording medium storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a process including displaying a first group of identification information items of content data stored in the information terminal in a first viewing area of a display screen, and displaying a second group of identification information items of the content data selected according to a selecting operation performed on the first group of identification information items displayed in the first viewing area in a second viewing area of the display screen at different times. The display device is adapted to play back the content data corresponding to the selected identification information items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present specification generally relates to the field of playbackcontrol. More particularly, the present specification relates to aplayback system, a recording medium, and a playback control method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a playback control method for playing back content data,such as image data, using a play list file which identifies a sequenceof playback of the content data is known. For example, see JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-027159.

In the method according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2005-027159, the content data may be played back in an arbitrarysequence only by rewriting the content of the play list file withoutediting the content data.

However, in the conventional method described above, a selection screenfor selecting the content data to be played back and a display screenfor displaying the result of the selection (or a screen for displayingthe content of the play list file) are displayed as separate screens.Hence, it is difficult to check the content of the play list file whileperforming a selecting operation to select the content data, and theconventional method does not provide sufficient usability.

Specifically, if a user wants to select the content data after checkingthe content of the play list file, the user has to carry out two or moreoperating procedures in order to return to the selection screen.Moreover, if the user wants to check the content of the play list filein the middle of performing the selecting operation on the selectionscreen, the user has to carry out two or more operations in order toshift to the display screen.

On the other hand, when generating a file which identifies a group ofcontent data as a playback object, such as a play list file, it isdesirable that the user is able to perform the selecting operation toselect the content data to be played back while confirming the selectionresult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a playback system which isadapted to improve usability when performing a selecting operation toselect a group of content data items as a playback object.

In an embodiment which solves or reduces one or more of theabove-described problems, the present invention provides a playbacksystem including a display device and an information terminal adapted tocommunicate with the display device, the information terminal includinga processor and a recording medium storing instructions which whenexecuted by the processor cause the processor to perform a displaycontrol process including displaying a first group of identificationinformation items of content data stored in the information terminal ina first viewing area of a display screen and displaying a second groupof identification information items of the content data selectedaccording to a selecting operation performed on the first group ofidentification information items displayed in the first viewing area ina second viewing area of the display screen at different times; and thedisplay device being adapted to play back the content data correspondingto the selected identification information items.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a playbacksystem according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a scenario in which the playbacksystem according to the embodiment is utilized.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of each of aninformation terminal and a display device of the playback system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of each of theinformation terminal and the display device of the playback system.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining operation of the playbacksystem.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed onthe information terminal.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a relationship between astorage area and display information of a first viewing area of thedisplay screen.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining a relationship between ascrolling function and display information of the first viewing area ofthe display screen.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining a selecting operation forselecting content data and a selection cancelling operation forcancelling selection of content data.

FIGS. 10A to 10E are diagrams for explaining a relationship betweendisplay information of the first viewing area and display information ofa second viewing area.

FIGS. 11A to 11D are diagrams for explaining a relationship betweendisplay information of the first viewing area and display information ofthe second viewing area.

FIGS. 12A to 12C are diagrams for explaining a relationship betweenstart and end operations of a playback control program and displayinformation of the second viewing area.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a display control process of thefirst viewing area performed by a first display control unit of theplayback control program.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a display control process of thesecond viewing area performed by a second display control unit of theplayback control program.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams for explaining selection of content dataand cancellation of selection of content data by voice input.

FIGS. 16A to 16C are diagrams showing an example of thumbnail imagesdisplayed in the second viewing area.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display indication of thesecond viewing area in a state in which none of thumbnail imagesdisplayed in the first viewing area is selected.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams for explaining a selecting operation forselecting content data and a selection cancelling operation forcancelling selection of content data.

FIGS. 19A to 19C are diagrams for explaining a selection cancellingoperation for cancelling selection of content data.

FIGS. 20A to 20D are diagrams for explaining a selection cancellingoperation for cancelling selection of content data.

FIGS. 21A to 21E are diagrams for explaining a change operation forchanging a sequence of playback of playback content data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will be assigned of embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

In the following embodiments, playback control is carried out by aplayback system including an information terminal and a display device.Specifically, the playback control is carried out by the playback systemin which the information terminal generates playback control informationwhich is information associated with playback of content data based onvalues of setting items input by a user, and transmits the generatedplayback control information to the display device so that the playbackcontrol information is set to the display device. In the following, adescription of the playback system will be assigned, and then adescription of the playback control according to each embodiment carriedout by the playback system will be assigned.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a playback system 100 accordingto a first embodiment. The playback system 100 includes an informationterminal 200 and a display device 300. In the playback system 100, theinformation terminal 200 and the display device 300 are connected via adata transmission path N such as a network, so that the informationterminal 200 and the display device 300 communicate with each other.

The information terminal 200 may perform communication according to acommunication protocol complying with the communication standard such as3G (3rd Generation), LTE (Long Term Evolution) or 4G (4th Generation).Moreover, the information terminal 200 may perform communicationaccording to another communication protocol such as ZigBee orBluetooth®.

The information terminals 200 may be implemented by a wirelesscommunication terminal such as a smart phone or a mobile phone.Moreover, the information terminals 200 may be implemented by a tabletPC (personal computer) or a notebook PC. The information terminal 200may be configured to communicate with the display device 300.

A playback control program 210 is installed in the information terminal200. The playback control program 210 when executed by a processor ofthe information terminal 200 causes the processor to generate playbackcontrol information which is information associated with playback of thecontent data to be displayed on the display device 300, and transmit thecontent data and the playback control information to the display device300.

A playback program 310 is installed in the display device 300. Theplayback program 310 when executed by a processor of the display device300 causes the processor to display the content data received from theinformation terminal 200 based on the playback control information.

The display device 300 may be configured to have a display function todisplay content data based on the playback control information receivedfrom the information terminal 200. The display device 300 may beimplemented by a projector or a display unit.

In the following, operation of the display device 300 to display thecontent data based on the playback control information is expressed asplayback of the content data.

Moreover, the content data may be implemented by image data or videodata. The image data used as the content data may be either image dataindicating a single image or image data indicating two or more images.The content data may be implemented by any image data that is capable ofbeing displayed on the display device 300.

In the following, content data which is played back by the displaydevice 300 is called “playback content data”, and other content datawhich is stored in a predetermined storage area is called “contentdata”.

Next, a scenario in which the playback system 100 according to the firstembodiment is utilized is explained with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 isa diagram for explaining a scenario in which the playback system 100 isutilized.

In the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that the information terminal200 is a smart phone or a tablet PC, the display device 300 isconfigured to include a projector 301 and a screen 302, and the playbacksystem 100 is utilized as a digital signage system.

If desired content data is selected by a user on the informationterminal 200, the information terminal 200 generates the playbackcontent data. If a desired playback setting of playing back the playbackcontent data is input by the user, the information terminal 200generates the playback control information associated with the playbackcontent data based on the playback setting. Moreover, the informationterminal 200 transmits the playback content data and the playbackcontrol information to the projector 301. The projector 301 stores thereceived playback content data in a storage part 32 (which will bedescribed below) and plays back the playback content data based on theplayback control information.

In this way, in the playback system 100, once the playback content dataand the playback control information are transmitted from theinformation terminal 200 to the display device 300, the user maycontinuously reproduce the playback content data based on the desiredplayback setting. Namely, when the playback system 100 is utilized as adigital signage system, the playback content data selected by the useris automatically played back based on the user's desired playbacksetting, and it is no longer necessary for the user to spend the timeand effort for setting up the sequence of playback of the content dataor the switching between display indications on an as-needed basis.

Next, a hardware configuration of the playback system 100 is explainedwith reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of eachof the information terminal 200 and the display device 300 of theplayback system 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the information terminal 200 includes a CPU (centralprocessing unit) 21, a storage part 22, an input part 23, an externalinterface part 24, a network control part 25, an output part 26, and adriver 27. These components of the information terminal 200 areinterconnected by a bus B1.

The CPU 21 is configured to control overall operations of theinformation terminal 200. The storage part 22 is configured to storevarious programs including the playback control program 210 executed bythe CPU 21 and various information items associated with operations andcomputations of the information terminal 200. The input part 23 isconfigured to receive various signals and information items input by auser. The input part 23 may be configured to have a display function,such as a touch panel function. Moreover, the input part 23 may beimplemented by a pointing device or a keyboard.

The external interface part 24 may be implemented by a USB (universalserial bus) memory slot or an NFC (near field communication) module. Thenetwork control part 25 is configured to include a modem or a LAN (localarea network) card and used to connect the information terminal 200 tothe network. The output part 26 is configured to output variousinformation items from the information terminal 200 to the outside. Theoutput part 26 may be implemented by a display unit, or may beimplemented by a transmission unit to transmit various data items to anexternal device.

The playback control program 210 is at least a part of the variousprograms stored to control the information terminal 200. The playbackcontrol program 210 is supplied to the information terminal 200 bydistribution of a recording medium 28 or by downloading the playbackcontrol program 210 from the network.

Namely, the playback control program 210 in combination with the displaydevice 300 may be supplied to a user as a playback control system.Alternatively only the playback control program 210 may be supplied to auser in a manner separate from the display device 300. Moreover, theplayback control program 210 preinstalled in the information terminal200 may be supplied to a user as a package of the information terminal200 with the playback control program 210.

Examples of the recording medium 28 in which the playback controlprogram 210 is recorded include a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, amagneto-optical disk, a ROM, a flash memory, etc.

If the recording medium 28 in which the playback control program 210 isrecorded is set to the driver 27, the playback control program 210 fromthe recording medium 28 is installed in the storage part 22 through thedriver 27. If the playback control program 210 is downloaded from thenetwork, the playback control program 210 is installed in the storagepart 22 through the network control part 25.

The storage part 22 is configured to store necessary files and dataitems as well as the various programs including the installed playbackcontrol program 210. The playback control program 210 when read from thestorage part 22 and executed by the CPU 21 causes the CPU 21 to performvarious processes (which include a display control process by a firstdisplay control unit, a display control process by a second displaycontrol unit, etc. which will be described later).

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the display device 300 includes a CPU 31,a storage part 32, an input part 33, an external interface part 34, anetwork control part 35, a display part 36, and a driver 37. Thesecomponents of the display device 300 are interconnected by a bus B2.

The CPU 31 is configured to control overall operations of the displaydevice 300. The storage part 32 is configured to store various programsincluding the playback program 310 executed by the CPU 31, variousinformation items associated with operations and computations of thedisplay device 300, and the playback content data to be played back onthe display device 300. The input part 33 is configured to receivevarious signals and information items input by a user. The input part 33may be implemented by an operation unit to operate the display device300.

The external interface parts 34 may be implemented by a USB memory slotor an NFC module. The network control part 35 is configured to connectthe display device 300 to the network. The display part 36 is configuredto play back the playback content data on the display device 300 inaccordance with a received playback instruction which identifies theplayback content data.

The playback program 310 is at least a part of the various programsstored to control the display device 300. The playback program 310 issupplied to the display device 300 by distribution of a recording medium38 or by downloading the playback program 310 from the network.

If the recording medium 38 in which the playback program 310 is recordedis set to the driver 37, the playback program 310 from the recordingmedium 38 is installed in the storage part 32 through the driver 37. Ifthe playback program 310 is downloaded from the network, the playbackprogram 310 is installed in the storage part 32 through the networkcontrol part 35.

The storage part 32 is configured to store necessary files and dataitems including the playback content data as well as the installedplayback program 310. The playback program 310 when read from thestorage part 32 and executed by the CPU 31 causes the CPU 31 to performvarious processes which will be described later.

Next, a functional configuration of the playback system 100 is explainedwith reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration ofeach of the information terminal 200 and the display device 300 of theplayback system 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the information terminal 200 includes apredetermined storage area 220 which is provided in the storage part 22.For example, content data 221 and setting item information 222 arestored in the storage area 220. The content data 221 may be image dataor video data that is capable of being played back on the display device300. The setting item information 222 may be information that indicatessetting items input by the user when generating the playback controlinformation.

The setting item information 222 may include setting items, such asORDER, TIME, EFFECT, etc. The setting item ORDER indicates the sequenceof playback of items of the playback content data 331. In thisembodiment, when the value of the setting item ORDER is 0, the sequenceof playback of the items of the playback content data 331 is set to ascreen-designated sequence, and when the value of the setting item ORDERis 1, the sequence of playback of the items of the playback content data331 is set to a random sequence. The screen-designated sequence is inagreement with the sequence of selection of the content data items in alist screen of identification information items of the content data 221.The identification information items of the content data may be displayinformation to identify the content data items, such as thumbnail imagesof the content data or file names of the content data.

The setting item TIME indicates a playback time of the playback contentdata 331. The setting item EFFECT indicates how to switch betweendisplay indications of the playback content data 331. Modes of thesetting item EFFECT include FADE IN, PUSH, WIPE, etc.

The FADE IN is a method of switching between the display indications ofthe content data by a gradual change in resolution of the playbackimage. The PUSH is a method of switching between the display indicationsof the content data by pushing the preceding display indication to theleft or right end and presenting the following display indication. TheWIPE is a method of switching between the display indications by wipingoff the preceding display indication and presenting the followingdisplay indication.

As shown in FIG. 4, the information terminal 200 includes a displaycontrol unit 211, an input reception unit 212, aplayback-control-information generation unit 213, and a transmissionunit 214.

The display control unit 211 is configured to display a list screen ofidentification information items of the content data 221 or a listscreen of identification information items of content data selected asthe playback content data 331 on the display part which is the outputpart 26 of the information terminal 200. Moreover, the display controlunit 211 is configured to display a setting screen for inputting valuesof setting items included in the setting item information 222.

Moreover, the display control unit 211 includes a first display controlunit 211 a and a second display control unit 211 b. The first displaycontrol unit 211 a is configured to control the display of the listscreen of the identification information items of the content data 221.The second display control unit 211 b is configured to control thedisplay of the list screen of the identification information items ofthe content data selected as the playback content data 331.

Furthermore, the display control unit 211 is configured to store acombined list 216 in which the identification information of the contentdata selected as the playback content data 331 associated with pathinformation indicating a storing position of the content data selectedas the playback content data 331 is recorded.

The input reception unit 212 is configured to receive items of thecontent data 221 selected by the user from the list screen in which thelist of the identification information items of the content data 221 isdisplayed. In this embodiment, the content data 221 selected from thelist screen through a user's selecting operation is transmitted from theinformation terminal 200 to the display device 300 as the playbackcontent data 331 which is to be played back on the display device 300.Moreover, the input reception unit 212 is configured to receive valuesof the setting items which are input to the setting screen by the user,the setting screen being displayed on the information terminal 200 forinputting the values of the setting items included in the setting iteminformation 222.

The playback-control-information generation unit 213 is configured togenerate the playback control information 332 based on informationincluded in the playback content data 331. Specifically, theplayback-control-information generation unit 213 holds a setting table215 in which respective values of the setting items are associated withthe setting items included in the playback control information 332, andgenerates the playback control information 332 in a predetermined formatby making reference to the setting table 215.

In this embodiment, the setting items (the setting items ORDER, TIME,EFFECT, etc.) included in the setting item information 222 are a part ofthe setting items included in the playback control information 332.Namely, the values which are input to the setting items included in thesetting item information 222 by the user through the setting screen arecontained in the playback control information 332.

Furthermore, the playback control information 332 generated by theplayback-control-information generation unit 213 includes a content listwhich identifies the playback content data 331 to be played back on thedisplay device 300.

The transmission unit 214 is configured to transmit the playback contentdata 331 and the generated playback control information 332 to thedisplay device 300.

In this embodiment, the content data 221 is stored in the storage part22. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment.For example, the content data 221 may be stored in a removable recordingmedium that is accessible by the information terminal 200, or may bestored in an external device that is configured to communicate with theinformation terminal 200.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the display device 300 includes a storagecontrol unit 311, a verification unit 312, and a notification unit 313.The display device 300 further includes a display control unit 320 whichis configured to control the display part 36.

Furthermore, the display device 300 includes a storage area 330 in whichthe playback content data 331 and the playback control information 332,received from the information terminal 200, are stored. Alternatively,the storage area 330 may be provided in the storage part 32 of thedisplay device 300 or may be provided in a removable recording mediumwhich is accessible by the display device 300. Further, the storage area330 may be provided in an external device that is configured tocommunicate with the display device 300.

The storage control unit 311 is configured to store in the storage area330 the playback content data 331 and the playback control information332 which are received from the information terminal 200. Moreover, thestorage control unit 311 is configured to set the values of the settingitems included in the playback control information 332 to the displaydevice 300 in response to a playback instruction for the playbackcontent data 331 received from the information terminal 200.

The verification unit 312 is configured to verify that the playbackcontent data 331 is capable of being played back on the display device300 based on the playback control information 332. The notification unit313 is configured to send a notification indicating a verificationresult from the verification unit 312 to the information terminal 200.

Next, operation of the playback system 100 according to the firstembodiment is explained with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a sequencediagram for explaining operation of the playback system 100.

If a user inputs a content data list display instruction associated withthe identification information items of the content data 221 to theinformation terminal (step S501), the information terminal 200 causesthe first display control unit 211 a to display the list screen of theidentification information items of the content data 221. Moreover, theinformation terminal 200 causes the second display control unit 211 b todisplay the list screen of the identification information items of thecontent data selected as the playback content data (step S502). Thedetails of the list screen of the identification information items ofthe content data selected as the playback content data and the listscreen of the identification information items of the content data 221will be described later.

Subsequently, the information terminal 200 causes the input receptionunit 212 to receive the selecting operation for selecting the contentdata 221 (step S503). The identification information items of theselected content data received by the input reception unit 212 aredisplayed in the list screen by the second display control unit 211 b.

In the information terminal 200, the processing of step S503 is repeateduntil the user's selecting operation to select the content data 221 isfinished. The items of the content data 221 selected by the user in stepS503 are recognized as the playback content data 331 in the informationterminal 200.

Subsequently, the information terminal 200 causes the display controlunit 211 to display a setting screen of the setting items included inthe setting item information 222 by making reference to the setting iteminformation 222 (step S504).

Subsequently, the information terminal 200 causes the input receptionunit 212 to receive the values of the setting items input by the user inthe setting screen (step S505). The user's input values of the settingitems are associated with the corresponding setting items in the settingtable 215, and the setting table 215 is stored. The setting itemsincluded in the setting item information 222 are as described above.

Subsequently, if a playback instruction associated with the playbackcontent data 331 input by the user is received (step S506), theinformation terminal 200 causes the playback-control-informationgeneration unit 213 to generate the playback control information 332(step S507). Specifically, if a playback instruction input by the useris received, the playback-control-information generation unit 213substitutes the values of the setting items stored in the setting table215 into a predetermined format and generates the playback controlinformation 332.

Subsequently, the information terminal 200 causes the transmission unit214 to transmit the playback control information 332 to the displaydevice 300 (step S508).

After the playback control information 332 is received from theinformation terminal 200, the display device 300 causes the storagecontrol unit 311 to store the received playback control information 332in the storage area 330 (step S509).

Subsequently, the information terminal 200 causes the transmission unit214 to transmit the playback content data 331 to the display device 300(step S510).

After the playback content data 331 is received from the informationterminal 200, the display device 300 causes the storage control unit 311to store the received playback content data 331 in the storage area 330(step S511). For example, in the display device 300, a foldercorresponding to the information terminal 200 is provided in the storagearea 330, and the playback content data 331 and the playback controlinformation 332 are stored in this folder.

Subsequently, the display device 300 causes the notification unit 313 tosend to the information terminal 200 a notification indicating thatstorage (upload) of the playback content data 331 into the storage area330 is finished (step S512).

After this notification is received from the display device 300, theinformation terminal 200 transmits a playback instruction associatedwith the playback content data 331 to the display device 300 (stepS513). After the playback instruction is received from the informationterminal 200, the display device 300 incorporates the values of thesetting items included in the playback control information 332 so thatplayback of the playback content data 331 may be performed based on theplayback control information 332.

Moreover, after the playback instruction is received, the display device300 causes the verification unit 312 to verify that the playback contentdata 331 is capable of being played back based on the playback controlinformation 332 (step S514).

Here, verification of the playback content data 331 by the verificationunit 312 is explained. The verification unit 312 accesses the playbackcontrol information 332 and determines whether the playback controlinformation 332 is in a format that is readable by the display device300. Moreover, in the verification unit 312 accesses the playbackcontrol information 332, determines whether the value of the settingitem VERSION is in agreement with that of the display device 300, anddetermines whether the path information of the content data 221 isincluded in the playback control information 332.

Subsequently, the display device 300 causes the notification unit 313 tosend a verification result obtained by the verification unit 312 to theinformation terminal 200 (step S515). Specifically, when it isdetermined in step S514 that the playback content data 331 is capable ofbeing played back, the notification unit 313 may send to the informationterminal 200 a notification indicating that the transmission of theplayback content data 331 has been performed successfully. After thenotification from the notification unit 313 is received, the informationterminal 200 displays a result of the verification (step S516).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S514 that the playbackcontent data 331 is not capable of being played back, the notificationunit 313 sends to the information terminal 200 a notification indicatingthat the transmission has failed. For example, the playback content data331 is not capable of being played back when the path information of thecontent data 221 is not included in the playback control information332, when the playback control information 332 is in a format which isnot readable by the display device 300, or when the value of the settingitem VERSION is not in agreement with that of the display device 300.

In this embodiment, when the transmission has failed, the display device300 causes the information terminal 200 to display a message requestingthe user to re-transmit the playback content data 331. Whenre-transmission of the playback content data 331 is performed, theprocessing of steps S504-S508 is repeated in the information terminal200. Moreover, when re-transmission of the playback content data 331 isperformed, the information terminal 200 may transmit the playbackcontent data 331 with only the values of the setting items included inthe setting item information 222 to the display device 300. In thiscase, the display device 300 may store the values of the setting itemsin the corresponding setting items of the playback control information332, and may cause the verification unit 312 to perform the verificationagain.

After step S516 is performed, the display device 300 plays back theplayback content data 331 based on the playback control information 332(step S517).

In the example of FIG. 5, the information terminal 200 transmits theplayback control information 332 to the display device 300, andthereafter transmits the playback content data 331 to the display device300. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment.For example, the information terminal 200 may transmit both the playbackcontent data 331 and the playback control information 332 to the displaydevice 300 simultaneously.

Moreover, in the example of FIG. 5, after the content data items areselected and the values of the setting items of the setting iteminformation 222 are set up, the playback control information 332 isgenerated. However, the present disclosure is not limited to thisembodiment. For example, the information terminal 200 may be configuredto generate the playback control information 332 concurrent with theselection of the content data items from the content data 221 and thesetting of the values of the setting items of the setting iteminformation 222.

Moreover, the setting of the values of the setting items of the settingitem information 222 may be performed when execution of the playbackcontrol program 210 is started. Alternatively, the setting of the valuesof the setting items of the setting item information 222 may beperformed immediately after the content data list display instructionassociated with the content data 221 is received. It is adequate thatthe setting of the values of the setting items of the setting iteminformation 222 is finished prior to the generation of the playbackcontrol information 332.

Next, a user interface (display indication) provided to a user by theplayback control program 210 when executed by the information terminal200 is explained. FIG. 6 shows an example of the user interface (displayindication) provided to a user by the playback control program 210 whenexecuted by the information terminal 200.

As shown in FIG. 6, the playback control program 210 when executed bythe information terminal 200 provides a display screen 600 as a userinterface on the information terminal 200, in which the content data 221is selected and a result of the selection is displayed.

The display screen 600 includes a first viewing area 610 whichconstitutes a list screen which displays a list of all or a part ofidentification information items (thumbnail images) of the content data221 stored in the storage area 220. Moreover, the display screen 600includes a second viewing area 620 which constitutes a list screen whichdisplays a list of identification information items (thumbnail images)of content data which are selected from among the identificationinformation items (thumbnail images) displayed in the first viewing area610.

In the example of FIG. 6, it is illustrated that a selecting operationis performed to select a thumbnail image 611 a from among thumbnailimages 611 of the content data 221 which are displayed in the firstviewing area 610 of the display screen 600. In order to indicate thatthe corresponding content data item is selected as the playback contentdata 331, the thumbnail image 611 a to which the selecting operation isperformed is copied to the second viewing area 620 and displayed thereinas a thumbnail image 621 a. Moreover, a check mark for indicating thecorresponding content data item is selected is superimposed over thethumbnail image 611 a of the first viewing area 610.

As described above, the display device 300 may reproduce thecorresponding items of the content data 221 according to the sequence ofthe thumbnail images displayed in the second viewing area 620. In thecase of the example of FIG. 6, the content data item corresponding tothe thumbnail image 621 a is first reproduced by the display device 300.

In this embodiment, the thumbnail images displayed in the second viewingarea 620 are put in order according to the sequence of selection of thethumbnail images from the first viewing area 610. In this respect,however, the user may change arbitrarily the sequence of the thumbnailimages displayed in the second viewing area 620.

Next, a relationship between the storage area 220 and displayinformation of the first viewing area 610 of the display screen 600displayed by the playback control program 210 when executed by theinformation terminal 200 is explained. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams forexplaining the relationship between the storage area 220 and the displayinformation of the first viewing area 610 of the display screen 600.

FIG. 7A shows schematically the content data 221 stored in the storagearea 220. Specifically, the content data 221 is stored in an imagestorage area 700 in the storage area 220. Labels according to user'sdesignation are assigned to items of the content data 221 stored in theimage storage area 700. In this respect, the same label is assigned tothe content data items surrounded by a corresponding dotted line in FIG.7A. Hence, in the information terminal 200, the content data 221 may beclassified into two or more groups of content data items according tothe labels, and only thumbnail images of the content data items of aparticular group the label of which is specified by the content datalist display instruction input by the user may be displayed in the firstviewing area 610.

In the example of FIG. 7A, six labels “AAAA” to “FFFF” are assigned tothe content data 221 stored in the image storage area 700.

In the information terminal 200, two or more different labels may beassigned to a content data item. When two or more labels are assigned toa content data item, the thumbnail image of the content data item isdisplayed in the first viewing area 610 when the display instructionthat specifies the corresponding one of the labels is input by the user.

For example, the label “AAAA” and the label “BBBB” are assigned to thecontent data 701. The thumbnail images of the content data 701 to whichthe label “AAAA” is assigned are displayed in the first viewing area 610when the display instruction that specifies the group of content dataitems to which the label “AAAA” is assigned is input by the user.Moreover, the thumbnail images of the content data 701 to which thelabel “BBBB” is assigned are displayed in the first viewing area 610when the display instruction that specifies the group of content dataitems to which the label “BBBB” is assigned is input by the user.

FIG. 7B shows a method of displaying in the first viewing area 610 thethumbnail images of the content data items classified into the groupsaccording to the assigned labels. As shown in FIG. 7B, the labelassigned to the group of content data items is displayed as an albumname in the display screen 600.

In the information terminal 200, when the labels are assigned to thecontent data 221, a list of album names may be displayed in the firstviewing area 610. As described above, the six labels are assigned to thecontent data 221 in the example of FIG. 7A, and a list of six albumnames is displayed in an album name list 711 in the example of FIG. 7B.

A display instruction that specifies any of the album names may be inputby the user and such a display instruction may be received by theinformation terminal 200. Hence, if a display instruction that specifiesone of the album names is input by the user, the information terminal200 extracts the group of content data items to which the album name asthe label is assigned from among the content data 221 stored in theimage storage area 700. After the extracted content data items areconverted into thumbnail images, the thumbnail images of the contentdata items are displayed in the first viewing area 610. In this case,the path information indicating a storing position of the correspondingcontent data is associated with the thumbnail image displayed in thefirst viewing area 610.

In the display screen 600 on the upper right side of FIG. 7B, it isillustrated that the user presses an arrow 721 in the display screen 60on the left side of FIG. 7B so as to input a display instructionspecifying the album name “AAAA” among the album name list 711 displayedin the first viewing area 610. When the arrow 721 is pressed, theinformation terminal 200 extracts the group of content data items towhich the album name “AAAA” as the label is assigned. After theextracted content data items are converted into thumbnail images, theinformation terminal 200 displays a thumbnail image group 712 in thefirst viewing area 610.

Moreover, the album name “AAAA” is displayed in an area display part731, which indicates that the thumbnail image group 712 displayed in thefirst viewing area 610 corresponds to the content data group to whichthe album name “AAAA” is assigned. In addition, the user may return tothe display screen 600 in which the album name list 711 is displayed inthe first viewing area 610 by pressing an album button 732 in thedisplay screen 600 on the upper right side of FIG. 7B.

On the other hand, if an overall image storage area button 722 in thedisplay screen 600 on the left-hand side of FIG. 7B is pressed in astate in which the album name list 711 is displayed in the first viewingarea 610, the display screen on the information terminal 200 changes tothe display screen 600 on the lower right side of FIG. 7B.

In this case, the information terminal 200 converts all the items of thecontent data 221 stored in the image storage area 700 into thumbnailimages, and displays a part of the thumbnail images in the first viewingarea 610 as a thumbnail image group 713. Also, in this case, the pathinformation indicating a storing position of the corresponding contentdata is associated with the thumbnail image group 713 displayed in thefirst viewing area 610.

In a state in which the overall image storage area button 722 ispressed, the title “overall image storage area” is displayed in the areadisplay part 731, which indicates that the thumbnail image group 713displayed in the first viewing area 610 is a thumbnail image group ofall the items of the content data 221 stored in the image storage area700. In addition, the user may return back to the display screen 600 inwhich the album name list 711 is displayed in the first viewing area 610by pressing the album button 732.

In this way, in the information terminal 200 according to thisembodiment, the respective thumbnail images of the content data to whichdifferent labels are assigned may be displayed in the first viewing area610 according to the display instructions input by the user at differenttimes.

Next, a relationship between a scrolling function and displayinformation of the first viewing area 610 of the display screen 600displayed by the playback control program 210 when executed by theinformation terminal 200 is explained. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams forexplaining the relationship between the scrolling function and thedisplay information of the first viewing area 610 of the display screen600.

FIG. 8A shows schematically the content data to which the label “EEEE”is assigned among the content data 221 stored in the image storage area700 of the storage area 220. FIG. 8B shows a state in which a displayinstruction specifying the album name “EEEE” is input in the album namelist, the content data items to which the album name “EEEE” as the labelis assigned are extracted, and the content data items are displayed inthe first viewing area 610 as a thumbnail image group 811.

As shown in FIG. 8A, 35 content data items to which the album name“EEEE” is assigned are stored in the image storage area 700 of thestorage area 220. If a display instruction specifying the album name“EEEE” is input by the user, the information terminal 200 extracts the35 content data items from the image storage area 700 of the storagearea 220, and converts the extracted content data items into thumbnailimages.

In the example of FIG. 8B, a case in which the thumbnail images labeledwith numeral characters “1” to “35” are generated is illustrated for thesake of convenience of description.

Here, it is assumed that the information terminal 200 is configured sothat only 4×4 thumbnail images may be displayed in the first viewingarea 610 at a time. If the user inputs a display instruction thatspecifies the album name “EEEE”, the user views only a part of thethumbnail images of the content data items to which the album name“EEEE” is assigned.

Specifically, in a thumbnail image group 811 shown in the left-hand sideof FIG. 8B, only the thumbnail images “1”-“4”, “6”-“9”, “11”-“14”, and“16”-“19” are viewed. On the other hand, the remaining thumbnail imagesmay be viewed in the first viewing area 610 if the user performs asliding operation to move a slider bar 801 in the downward directionand/or the rightward direction. In the display screen 600 on theright-hand side of FIG. 8B, it is illustrated that a thumbnail imagegroup 811′ a part of which has not been viewed may be fully viewed byperforming a sliding operation to move the slider bar 801 in thedownward direction and the rightward direction.

Specifically, in the example of the thumbnail image group 811′ of thedisplay screen 600 on the right-hand side of FIG. 8B, the thumbnailimages “17”-“20”, “22”-“25”, “27”-“30”, and “32”-“35” may be viewed.

In the example of FIG. 8B, the slider bar 801 is displayed for the sakeof convenience of description. However, the present disclosure is notlimited to this embodiment. The information terminal 200 may beconfigured so that the thumbnail image group displayed in the firstviewing area 610 is slidable in any of the upward, downward, rightwardand leftward directions, regardless of whether the slider bar 801 isdisplayed.

In this way, the information terminal 200 according to this embodimentis configured so that performing a sliding operation on the thumbnailimage group is effective when the thumbnail image group exceeding thenumber of the thumbnail images which may be displayed in the firstviewing area 610 is displayed in the first viewing area 610. Hence, theuser may display the thumbnail images arranged in a predeterminedformation in the first viewing area 610 at different times by performingthe sliding operation on the thumbnail image group. Therefore, in theinformation terminal 200, the thumbnail images arranged in thepredetermined formation may be displayed in the first viewing area 610according to the display instructions (sliding operation) input by theuser at different times.

Next, a selecting operation and a selection cancelling operation of thecontent data are explained. FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaininga selecting operation for selecting content data in the informationterminal 200 and a selection cancelling operation for cancellingselection of content data.

As shown in FIG. 9A, in a state in which the thumbnail images aredisplayed in the first viewing area 610 according to a user's displayinstruction, the user may select a content data item by performing a tapoperation on a corresponding one of the thumbnail images.

The thumbnail image to which the tap operation is performed is copiedwith the associated path information, and the thumbnail image isdisplayed in the second viewing area 620. In this way, the thumbnailimage to which the selecting operation is performed is displayed in thesecond viewing area 620, and the user may confirm that the content dataitem corresponding to the thumbnail image has been selected as theplayback content data. In addition, a check mark is superimposed overthe thumbnail image displayed in the first viewing area 610 in theinformation terminal 200. Hence, by the check mark, the user may confirmthat the content data item corresponding to the thumbnail image isselected as the playback content data.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, in a state in which thethumbnail image is displayed in the second viewing area 620, selectionof the corresponding playback content data may be cancelled byperforming a tap operation again to the corresponding thumbnail image inthe first viewing area 610.

If the selection is cancelled, the thumbnail image displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 is deleted. Moreover, the check mark on thecorresponding thumbnail image displayed in the first viewing area 610 isalso deleted. Thereby, selection of the playback content datacorresponding to the thumbnail image is cancelled, and the user mayconfirm that it is no longer the playback content data.

In this way, in the information terminal 200 according to thisembodiment, a content data item may be selected by performing a tapoperation on the corresponding thumbnail image displayed in the firstviewing area 610, and the selection of the content data item may becancelled by performing the tap operation again.

Namely, in the information terminal 200 according to this embodiment,the tap operation performed on the thumbnail image displayed in thefirst viewing area 610 is recognized as the selection instruction or theselection cancellation instruction.

Next, a relationship between display information of the first viewingarea 610 and display information of the second viewing area 620 in thedisplay screen 600 displayed by the playback control program 210 whenexecuted is explained.

FIGS. 10A to 10E are diagrams for explaining a relationship betweendisplay information of the first viewing area 610 and displayinformation of the second viewing area 620 based on a user's displayinstruction. FIG. 10A illustrates a state of display information on theinformation terminal 200 in which a display instruction specifying thealbum name “AAAA” is input by a user and a group of thumbnail images ofthe content data to which the album name “AAAA” is assigned aredisplayed in the first viewing area 610.

If a tap operation is performed on the thumbnail images “1” and “2” inthe state shown in FIG. 10A, the thumbnail images are displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 as shown in FIG. 10B. Subsequently, if the albumbutton 732 is pressed by the user, the album name list 711 is displayedin the first viewing area 610 as shown in FIG. 10C.

At this time, the display information of the second viewing area 620 ismaintained. Namely, even if the display information of the first viewingarea 610 is changed by the user's display instruction, the secondviewing area 620 itself is maintained and the display information of thesecond viewing area 620 also remains unchanged.

Here, it is assumed that the user presses the arrow 721 to input adisplay instruction specifying the album name “FFFF”, in the state inwhich the album name list 711 is displayed. In this case, a group ofthumbnail images of the content data to which the album name “FFFF” isassigned is displayed in the first viewing area 610 as shown in FIG.10D.

Moreover, the display information of the second viewing area 620 ismaintained also in this case. Hence, if a tap operation is performed bythe user on a thumbnail image “108” in the state shown in FIG. 10D, thethumbnail image is displayed additionally in the second viewing area 620as shown in FIG. 10E.

In this way, after the display screen 600 is displayed by the playbackcontrol program 210 when executed by the information terminal 200, thedisplay information of the second viewing area 620 is maintainedregardless of whether the display information of the first viewing area610 is changed or not.

Namely, even if the object displayed in the first viewing area 610 ischanged by a user's display instruction, the display information of thealready selected content data items in the second viewing area 620 ismaintained. Moreover, the display of the thumbnail images of theselected content data items in the second viewing area 620 is alsomaintained.

Hence, the user may always perform a selecting operation while checkingwhich of the content data is selected.

Next, a relationship between display information of the first viewingarea 610 and display information of the second viewing area 620 in thedisplay screen 600 displayed by playback control program 210 whenexecuted is explained.

FIGS. 11A to 11D are diagrams for explaining the relationship betweendisplay information of the first viewing area 610 and displayinformation of the second viewing area 620 based on a user's slidingoperation. FIG. 11A illustrates a state of display information on theinformation terminal 200 in which a display instruction specifying thealbum name “EEEE” is input by the user and a group of thumbnail imagesof the content data to which the album name “EEEE” is assigned isdisplayed in the first viewing area 610.

If a tap operation is performed on the thumbnail image “1” among thethumbnail images displayed in the first viewing area 610 in the stateshown in FIG. 11A, the thumbnail image is displayed in the secondviewing area 620 as shown in FIG. 11B. Subsequently, if a slidingoperation is performed by the user, the thumbnail image “1” goes out ofsight in the first viewing area 610 as shown in FIG. 11C. On the otherhand, another group of thumbnail images which was out of sight in thefirst viewing area 610 in the state shown in FIG. 11A appears in thefirst viewing area 610.

Even in such a case, the display information of the second viewing area620 is maintained. Namely, even if the display information of the firstviewing area 610 is changed by the user's sliding operation and thethumbnail images corresponding to the thumbnail images displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 go out of sight in the first viewing area 610,the display information of the second viewing area remains unchanged.

Moreover, if a tap operation is performed on a thumbnail image “35”among the thumbnail images displayed in the first viewing area 610 inthe state shown in FIG. 11C, the thumbnail image is displayedadditionally in the second viewing area 620 as shown in FIG. 11D.

Namely, even if the object displayed in the first viewing area 610 ischanged by a user's display instruction (sliding operation), the displayinformation of the already selected content data items in the secondviewing area 620 is maintained. Moreover, the display of the thumbnailimages of the selected content data in the second viewing area 620 isalso maintained.

Hence, the user may always perform a selecting operation while checkingwhich of the content data is selected. This configuration is convenientfor the user especially when many thumbnail images are displayed in thefirst viewing area 610, or when the user wishes to perform severalselecting operations in a sequence different from the sequence of thethumbnail images displayed in the first viewing area 610.

Next, a relationship between start and end operations of the playbackcontrol program 210 and display information of the second viewing area620 in the display screen 600 displayed by the playback control program210 when executed is explained.

FIGS. 12A to 12C are diagrams for explaining the relationship betweenstart and end operations of the playback control program 210 and displayinformation of the second viewing area 620.

FIG. 12A illustrates a state of display information on the informationterminal 200 in which content data items corresponding to thumbnailimages “1” and “2” are selected when a group of thumbnail images of thecontent data to which the album name “BBBB” is assigned is displayed inthe first viewing area 610.

Here, it is assumed that an end instruction of the playback controlprogram 210 is input by a user in the state shown in FIG. 12A and theplayback control program 210 is terminated. FIG. 12B illustrates a statein which the playback control program 210 is terminated.

Moreover, it is assumed that a start instruction of the playback controlprogram 210 is input by the user in the state as shown in FIG. 12B, andthe playback control program 210 is started again. FIG. 12C illustratesa state of the display information on the information terminal 200immediately after the playback control program 210 is started again.

If the playback control program 210 is started, the thumbnail images ofthe content data 221 stored in the overall image storage area 700 of thestorage area 220 are displayed in the first viewing area 610 as shown inFIG. 12C. On the other hand, the thumbnail images which have beendisplayed in the second viewing area 620 when the playback controlprogram 210 is terminated are displayed again in the second viewing area620 as shown in FIG. 12C.

In this way, in the information terminal 200 according to thisembodiment, even if the playback control program 210 is terminated, thethumbnail images displayed in the second viewing area 620 aremaintained. Hence, when the playback control program 210 is startedagain, the state of the display information of the second viewing area620 which is the same as the state immediately before the end of theplayback control program 210 is reproduced.

Next, a display control process of the first viewing area 610 performedby the first display control unit 211 a of the playback control program210 when executed is explained. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explainingthe display control process of the first viewing area 610 performed bythe first display control unit 211 a of the playback control program210.

Upon starting of the playback control program 210, the display controlprocess of the first viewing area 610 shown in FIG. 13 is performed. Adefault displaying object is identified in step S1301. In thisembodiment, the image storage area 700 is set up as the defaultdisplaying object. Hence, in step S1301, the image storage area 700 isidentified as the default displaying object.

In step S1302, content data is read from the displaying objectidentified in step S1301. In this embodiment, the content data 221stored in the image storage area 700 is read.

In step S1303, the content data 221 read in step S1302 is converted intothumbnail images and the path information of the content data 221 isassociated with each of the thumbnail images.

In step S1304, the thumbnail images generated in step S1303 aredisplayed in the first viewing area 610. In step S1305, it is determinedwhether a display instruction to display another displaying object isinput by the user. Specifically, it is determined whether a displayinstruction specifying a particular album name is input by the user,whether the image storage area button 722 is pressed by the user, orwhether a sliding operation is performed by the user.

When it is determined in step S1305 that a display instructionspecifying another displaying object is input by the user, the controlprogresses to step S1309 in which the displaying object specified by theinput display instruction is identified. Subsequently, the control isreturned back to step S1302 in which the content data is read from theidentified displaying object. For example, in step S1302, a group ofcontent data items to which the particular album name is assigned isread.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S1305 that a displayinstruction specifying another displaying object is not input by theuser, the control progresses to step S1306. In step S1306, it isdetermined whether a tap operation as a selecting operation is performedon a thumbnail image displayed in the first viewing area 610.

When it is determined in step S1306 that a tap operation as a selectingoperation is not performed, the control is returned to step S1305. Onthe other hand, when it is determined in step S1306 that a tap operationas a selecting operation is performed, the control progresses to stepS1307. In step S1307, the displaying object which is selected by the tapoperation is identified.

In step S1308, a thumbnail image corresponding to the displaying objectidentified in step S1307 is copied, and the thumbnail image and its pathinformation are transmitted to the second display control unit 211 bwhich performs a display control process of the second viewing area 620.

Subsequently, each time a display instruction in which the displayingobject is changed is input by the user, a thumbnail image of acorresponding content data item is displayed in the first viewing area610. Moreover, each time a content data item is selected by a tapoperation as a selecting operation, a thumbnail image of thecorresponding content data item is copied and the thumbnail image andits path information are transmitted to the second display control unit211 b.

Next, a display control process of the second viewing area 620 performedby the second display control unit 211 b of the playback control program210 when executed is explained. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explainingthe display control process of the second viewing area 620 performed bythe second display control unit 211 b of the playback control program210.

Upon starting of the playback control program 210, the display controlprocess of the second viewing area 620 shown in FIG. 14 is performed.The combined list 216 is read in step S1401. As described above, thethumbnail image and the path information of the content data selected asthe playback content data are recorded in the combined list 216.Moreover, the thumbnail image and the path information which areassociated with each other and recorded in the combined list 216 aremaintained regardless of whether the playback control program 210 isstarted or terminated and regardless of whether the power of theinformation terminal 200 is turned ON or OFF.

Hence, the thumbnail images of the playback content data selectedimmediately before the playback control program 210 is previouslyterminated may be obtained by reading the combined list 216 in stepS1401 upon starting of the playback control program 210.

In step S1402, the thumbnail images read in step S1401 are displayed inthe second viewing area 620.

In step S1403, it is determined whether the thumbnail images and thepath information are received from the first display control unit 211 a.When it is determined in step S1403 that the thumbnail images and thepath information are not received, the control is returned to step S1403until a result of the determination at step S1403 is affirmative.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S1403 that thethumbnail images and the path information are received from the firstdisplay control unit 211 a, the control progresses to step S1404. Instep S1404, the received thumbnail images are displayed in the secondviewing area 620. The received thumbnail images are displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 additionally in a position on the right-handside of the already displayed thumbnail images.

In step S1405, the combined list 216 is updated by adding the thumbnailimages and the path information received in step S1403 to the combinedlist 216.

In step S1406, it is determined whether a selection cancellationinstruction is input by the user. When it is determined in step S1406that a selection cancellation instruction is not input, the control isreturned to step S1403. On the other hand, when it is determined in stepS1406 that a selection cancellation instruction is input, the controlprogresses to step S1407. In step S1407, the content data item which isthe target of the selection cancellation instruction is identified.

In step S1408, a thumbnail image corresponding to the content data itemidentified in step S1407 is deleted from the second viewing area 620.Moreover, in step S1409, the combined list 216 is updated by deletingthe corresponding thumbnail image and the path information in thecombined list 216.

Subsequently, the processing of steps S1403 to S1409 is repeated untilthe playback control program 210 is terminated.

As described in the foregoing, the playback system 100 according to thisembodiment provides the following features.

The display screen 600 including the first viewing area 610 and thesecond viewing area 620 which are provided in the same screen isconfigured as a display screen used by the user to select content dataitems.

The identification information items of all or a part of the contentdata items stored in the storage area are displayed in the first viewingarea 610.

By using the labels assigned to the content data, the content data itemsare classified into groups according to the labels. Moreover, when adisplay instruction specifying a group is input, the content data itemsbelonging to the group are extracted and the identification informationitems of the extracted content data items are displayed.

The identification information items which are selected by the user fromamong the identification information items displayed in the firstviewing area are displayed in the second viewing area 620.

Even if a display instruction specifying another displaying object to bedisplayed in the first viewing area is input, the identificationinformation displayed in the second viewing area 620 is maintained.

The identification information displayed in the second viewing area 620is maintained even after the playback control program is terminated, andwhen the playback control program is started again, the identificationinformation of the content data selected immediately before the playbackcontrol program is terminated is displayed.

In this embodiment, the display information of the second viewing area620 in which the selection result is displayed is maintained regardlessof whether the display information of the first viewing area 610 inwhich the displaying object is displayed is changed. Hence, the user mayalways perform the selecting operation while checking the selectionresult even when the displaying object is changed.

As a result, it is possible to improve usability when performing theselecting operation to select the group of content data items as thedisplaying object.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment described above, by performing a tap operationon a thumbnail image displayed in the first viewing area 610, a contentdata item corresponding to the thumbnail image is selected as theplayback content data and the selection of the content data item iscancelled.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. Forexample, by specifying a thumbnail image displayed in the first viewingarea 610 by voice input, the content data item corresponding to thespecified thumbnail image may be selected as the playback content data.Moreover, the selection of the playback content data corresponding tothe selected thumbnail image may be cancelled by voice input.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams for explaining a selecting operation forselecting content data and a selection cancelling operation forcancelling selection of content data by voice input.

As shown in FIG. 15A, in a state in which thumbnail images of thecontent data which are specified by a display instruction input by theuser are displayed in the first viewing area 610, the user may input aselection instruction specifying one of the thumbnail images by voice.In the example of FIG. 15A, the manner the selection instruction isinput by the user by saying that image “1” is selected is illustrated.

The thumbnail image which is specified by the selection instruction iscopied with the path information associated, and displayed in the secondviewing area 620.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 15B, in a state in which the thumbnail imagealready selected as the playback content data is displayed in the secondviewing area 620, the user may input a selection cancellationinstruction specifying the thumbnail image by voice. In the example ofFIG. 15B, the manner the selection cancellation instruction is input bythe user by saying that selection of image “2” is cancelled isillustrated.

In addition to the previously described configuration of the firstembodiment, the playback system 100 according to this embodiment isconfigured so that the user may input a selection instruction specifyingthe playback content data by voice input, and may input a selectioncancellation instruction specifying the playback content data by voiceinput.

As a result, in addition to the effects which are the same as those ofthe first embodiment, it is possible for the playback system 100according to this embodiment to reduce the load of user's selectingoperation for generating the content data as the playback object.

Third Embodiment

In the foregoing embodiments, the thumbnail images selected from thethumbnail images in the first viewing area 610 by the selectingoperation and received from the first display control unit 211 a arearranged sequentially from the left end of the second viewing area 620.However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, when the thumbnail images are displayed near the right endof the second viewing area 620, the thumbnail images displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 may be automatically moved leftward. Thereby,the thumbnail image of the newly selected content data may be alwaysdisplayed near the right end of the second viewing area 620, and it ispossible for the user to easily check the selection result by the latestselecting operation.

FIGS. 16A to 16C show an example of thumbnail images displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 in the information terminal 200 according tothis embodiment when a selecting operation is performed on the thumbnailimages.

As shown in FIG. 16A, a thumbnail image of a first selected content dataitem is arranged at the left end of the second viewing area 620.Moreover, as shown in FIG. 16B, thumbnail images of subsequentlyselected content data items are arranged sequentially from a position onthe right-hand side of the thumbnail image of the previously selectedcontent data item.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16C, when there is no additional space inthe second viewing area 620 on the right-hand side of the thumbnailimage of the previously selected content data item, the thumbnail imagesof the previously selected content data items are moved leftward by adistance corresponding to the thumbnail images of the newly selectedcontent data items.

Thereby, as shown in FIG. 16C, the thumbnail images of the subsequentlyselected content data items may be arranged on the right-hand side ofthe thumbnail images of the previously selected content data items.

In addition to the previously described configuration of the foregoingembodiments, the playback system 100 according to this embodiment isconfigured so that the thumbnail images of the newly selected contentdata items are arranged in the second viewing area 620 on the right-handside of the thumbnail images of the previously selected content dataitems, and that, when there is no additional space in the second viewingarea 620 on the right-hand side of the thumbnail images of thepreviously selected content data items, the thumbnail images of thepreviously selected content data items are automatically moved leftwardby a distance corresponding to the thumbnail images of the newlyselected content data items.

As a result, it is possible to always display the thumbnail images ofthe newly selected content data items near the right-hand end of thesecond viewing area 620, and even if the number of selected content dataitems increases, the user may easily check the selection result by thelatest selecting operation.

Fourth Embodiment

In the foregoing embodiments, no display indication is performed when aselecting operation to select a thumbnail image is not yet performed andno thumbnail image is displayed in the second viewing area 620. Theplayback system according to this embodiment may be configured so that adisplay indication which urges the user to perform a selecting operationis performed.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a display indication of the second viewingarea 620 in a state in which none of the thumbnail images displayed inthe first viewing area 610 is selected.

As shown in FIG. 17, in a state in which no selecting operation isperformed on the thumbnail images displayed in the first viewing area610, a message such as “Please select content data” which urges the userto perform a selecting operation for selecting content data is displayedin the second viewing area 620. The message disappears when a selectingoperation is performed on the thumbnail images displayed in the firstviewing area 610. However, even after the selecting operation isperformed on the thumbnail images, if a selection cancelling operationfor cancelling selection of content data is performed and the number ofthe thumbnail images displayed in the second viewing area 620 becomeszero again, the message is displayed in the second viewing area 620.

In addition to the previously described configuration of the foregoingembodiments, the playback system 100 according to this embodiment isconfigured so that, when the number of thumbnail images displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 is zero, a predetermined message is displayed inthe second viewing area 620.

As a result, in addition to the effects which are the same as those ofthe foregoing embodiments, it is possible for the playback system 100according to this embodiment to urge the user to select content data.

In the above-described embodiment, the message which urges the user toselect content data is displayed in the second viewing area 620.However, the area where the message is displayed is not limited to thisembodiment. The area where the message is displayed may be an arbitraryarea within the display screen 600.

Fifth Embodiment

In the first embodiment described above, a tap operation is performed ona thumbnail image displayed in the first viewing area 610 to select thecontent data item corresponding to the thumbnail image, and a tapoperation is performed again on the thumbnail image to cancel selectionof the content data item. However, the present disclosure is not limitedto this embodiment.

For example, the playback system may be configured so that a tapoperation performed on a thumbnail image displayed in the second viewingarea 620 is recognized as a selecting operation, and a tap operationperformed on a thumbnail image displayed in the first viewing area 610is recognized as being a selection cancelling operation.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams for explaining a selecting operation forselecting content data and a selection cancelling operation forcancelling selection of content data in the information terminal 200according to this embodiment.

FIG. 18A shows a state in which thumbnail images are displayed in thefirst viewing area 610 according to a display instruction input by theuser, and some content data items are selected so that correspondingthumbnail images are displayed in the second viewing area 620.

In the information terminal 200 according to this embodiment, forexample, if a tap operation is performed on the thumbnail image “2” inthe second viewing area 620 in the state shown in FIG. 18A, selection ofthe content data corresponding to the thumbnail image is cancelled asshown in FIG. 18B.

As shown in FIG. 18B, the thumbnail image “2” displayed in the secondviewing area 620 is deleted and a check mark superimposed over thethumbnail image “2” displayed in the first viewing area 620 disappears.As a result, the user may confirm that selection of the content dataitem corresponding to the thumbnail image “2” has been cancelled.

In the above-described embodiment, selection of the content data itemcorresponding to the thumbnail image is cancelled when a tap operationis performed on the thumbnail image displayed in the second viewing area620. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment.For example, the playback system 100 may be configured so that when atap operation is performed on a mark superimposed over an upper leftcorner of the thumbnail image displayed in the second viewing area 620,selection of the content data item corresponding to the thumbnail imageis cancelled.

Sixth Embodiment

In the first embodiment described above, a selection cancellingoperation for cancelling selection of content data is performed on thethumbnail image arrayed at the right-hand end among the thumbnail imagesdisplayed in the second viewing area 620. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 19A to 19C, a selection cancellingoperation for cancelling selection of content data may be performed on athumbnail image other than the thumbnail image arrayed at the right-handend among the thumbnail images displayed in the second viewing area 620.

In the example of FIGS. 19A to 19C, three thumbnail images are displayedin the second viewing area 620 (FIG. 19A) and a selection cancellingoperation is performed on a central thumbnail image (thumbnail image“2”) among these thumbnail images.

In this case, after the central thumbnail image (thumbnail image “2”) isdeleted (FIG. 19B), the thumbnail image (thumbnail image “3”) located onthe right-hand side of the deleted thumbnail image is automaticallymoved leftward (FIG. 19C). Namely, the thumbnail images are displayed inthe second viewing area 620 at equal intervals and in a state ofleft-justification.

In the above-described example, a selection cancelling operation forcancelling selection of content data is performed when the number ofthumbnail images displayed in the second viewing area 620 is less thanor equal to the number of thumbnail images that can be displayed in thesecond viewing area 620. However, the present disclosure is not limitedto this embodiment.

For example, the information terminal 200 in the playback system 100 maybe configured so that, even when the number of thumbnail imagesdisplayed in the second viewing area 620 is greater than the number ofthumbnail images that can be displayed in the second viewing area 620, aselection cancelling operation is performed on any of the thumbnailimages in the second viewing area 620 (FIGS. 20A to 20D).

In the example of FIG. 20A, a selecting operation is performed on fivethumbnail images “1”-“5” and the thumbnail images “2”-“5” are displayedin the second viewing area 620.

If a selection cancelling operation for cancelling selection of thecontent data item corresponding to the thumbnail image “3” is performedin the state of FIG. 20A, the thumbnail image “3” is deleted from thesecond viewing area 620 (FIG. 20B). Moreover, the thumbnail images(thumbnail images “4” and “5”) located on the right-hand side of thedeleted thumbnail image are automatically moved leftward (FIG. 20C).

By the leftward movement of the thumbnail images “4” and “5”, the threethumbnail images are temporarily displayed in the second viewing area620. On the other hand, four thumbnail images at the maximum may bedisplayed in the second viewing area 620, and the thumbnail image “1”(which is not displayed in the second viewing area 620) exists on theleft-hand side of the three thumbnail images. If it is recognized by theinformation terminal 200 that the non-displayed thumbnail image exists,the group of thumbnail images is moved, in a direction that allows thenon-displayed thumbnail image to appear, until the number of thumbnailimages which can be displayed in the second viewing area 620 is reached.

In the example of FIG. 20D, the group of thumbnail images in the secondviewing area 620 is moved rightward and the movement of the thumbnailimages is stopped when the thumbnail image “5” reaches the right-handend of the second viewing area 620.

In the information terminal 200 according to this embodiment, even whena selection cancelling operation for cancelling selection of contentdata is performed and the corresponding thumbnail image is deleted, theremaining thumbnail images are left-justified and displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 at equal intervals. Moreover, when the number ofthumbnail images displayed in the second viewing area 620 is greaterthan the number of thumbnail images that can be displayed in the secondviewing area 620, the group of thumbnail images is moved until thenumber of thumbnail images which can be displayed in the second viewingarea 620 is reached.

As a result, the user may easily check which content data is selectedeven when a selection cancelling operation is performed.

Seventh Embodiment

In the foregoing embodiments, the sequence of the thumbnail imagesdisplayed in the second viewing area 620 is in agreement with thesequence of selection of the thumbnail images from the first viewingarea 610. However, the present disclosure is not limited to theseembodiments.

For example, the sequence of the thumbnail images displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 may be changed arbitrarily.

FIGS. 21A to 21E are diagrams for explaining a change operation forchanging a sequence of playback of the corresponding content data bychanging the sequence of the thumbnail images displayed in the secondviewing area 620.

FIG. 21A shows a state in which content data items are selected as theplayback content data and thumbnail images are displayed in the secondviewing area 620.

It is assumed that a user performs a long tap operation on one of thethumbnail images displayed in the second viewing area 620 in the stateshown in FIG. 21A. In this case, the thumbnail image (thumbnail image“3”) on which the long tap operation is performed is transformed into athumbnail image larger in size than other thumbnail images as shown inFIG. 21B, in order to clarify that the thumbnail image is specified bythe user. Thereby, the user may check that it is recognized by theinformation terminal 200 that the thumbnail image (thumbnail image “3”)is specified.

The user may move the specified thumbnail image leftward or rightwardwithin the second viewing area 620 as shown in FIG. 21C by performing aflick operation on the specified thumbnail image in the state shown inFIG. 21B. Moreover, after the specified thumbnail image is moved to apredetermined position (FIG. 21D) and the user's hand is moved off thedisplay screen 600, the thumbnail image may be displayed at thepredetermined position (FIG. 21E). Namely, the sequence of the thumbnailimages displayed in the second viewing area 620 may be changed. Thereby,the sequence of playback of the corresponding playback content data mayalso be changed.

In this way, in the information terminal 200 according to thisembodiment, the sequence of the thumbnail images displayed in the secondviewing area 620 may be changed arbitrarily.

In the above-described embodiment, when a long tap operation isperformed on a thumbnail image, the size of the thumbnail image isenlarged, in order to clarify that it is recognized by the informationterminal 200 that the thumbnail image is specified. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, theabove-described embodiment may be modified such that a display mode ofthe thumbnail image when a long tap operation is performed thereon ischanged to another display mode, or a size of the selected thumbnailimage is reduced, or a color of the selected thumbnail image is changedto a different color, in order to clarify that it is recognized by theinformation terminal 200 that the thumbnail image is specified.

Another Embodiment

In the first embodiment described above, the user may perform a slidingoperation with respect to the first viewing area 610. The presentdisclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, theinformation terminal 200 may be configured so that the user may alsoperform a sliding operation with respect to the second viewing area 620.

In a case in which the second viewing area 620 is arranged so that thethumbnail images are arrayed in one line, the user may perform a slidingoperation to move the slider only in the right/left direction. However,in a case in which the second viewing area 620 is arranged so that thethumbnail images are arrayed in two or more lines, the user may performa sliding operation to move the sliders in the right/left direction andthe up/down direction.

Moreover, the information terminal 200 may be configured so that theuser may perform a sliding operation with respect to the first viewingarea 610 and a sliding operation with respect to the second viewing area620 independently of each other. Namely, when a sliding operation isperformed by the user with respect to the first viewing area 610, onlythe thumbnail images displayed in the first viewing area 610 are moved.When a sliding operation is performed by the user with respect to thesecond viewing area 620, only the thumbnail images displayed in thesecond viewing area 620 are moved. Further, when a sliding operation isperformed by the user with respect to the first viewing area 610 and thesecond viewing area 620, both the thumbnail images displayed in thefirst and second viewing areas 610 and 620 are moved in the operatingdirection.

As described in the foregoing, the playback system according to thepresent invention may improve usability when performing a selectingoperation to select a group of content data items as a playback object.

The playback system according to the present invention is not limited tothe above-described embodiments, and variations and modifications may bemade without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priorityof Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-165359, filed on Aug. 8, 2013,the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A playback system, comprising: a display device;and an information terminal configured to communicate with the displaydevice, the information terminal including, a memory storing programinstructions and further storing a plurality of content, each contentassociated with at least one content group of a plurality of contentgroups, such that each content group is associated with a particular setof content of the plurality of content; and a processor configured toexecute the program instructions to concurrently display, on a displayscreen of the information terminal, a first viewing area and a secondviewing area, wherein, the first viewing area is reversibly switchedbetween displaying different sets of identification items associatedwith different content groups of the plurality of content groups; andthe second viewing area displays, concurrently with the first viewingarea reversibly switching between displaying different sets ofidentification items associated with different content groups of theplurality of content groups, a selected set of identification items inthe second viewing area, the selected set of identification itemsassociated with a set of selected content, the selected content beingselected from one or more content groups according to a selectingoperation performed on one or more identification items displayed in thefirst viewing area; the information terminal further configured totransmit playback control information to the display device based onreceiving a user-initiated playback instruction input, the playbackcontrol information indicating playback settings, transmit the selectedcontent corresponding to the selected set of identification items to thedisplay device subsequently to transmitting the playback controlinformation, and transmit a playback instruction associated with theselected content to the display device based on receiving a notificationfrom the display device indicating that the transmitted selected contenthas been received and stored at the display device; the display devicefurther configured to transmit a verification result information to theinformation terminal based on receiving the playback instruction andverifying that the selected content is capable of being played backbased on the playback control information, and play back the selectedcontent based on the playback settings indicated in the playback controlinformation, subsequently to transmitting the verification resultinformation; and the information terminal further configured to displaya verification result, on the display screen of the informationterminal, based on the verification result information received from thedisplay device.
 2. The playback system according to claim 1, whereinconcurrently displaying the first viewing area and the second viewingarea includes displaying the selected set of identification items in thesecond viewing area in an arrangement corresponding to a sequence ofselection of the selected set of identification items from one or moreidentification items displayed in the first viewing area.
 3. Theplayback system according to claim 1, wherein, the processor is furtherconfigured to execute the program instructions to store the selected setof identification items into a storage device; and displaying theselected set of identification items includes, reading the selected setof identification items from the storage device; and displaying theselected set of identification items read from the storage device in thesecond viewing area.
 4. The playback system according to claim 1,wherein at least one content, of the plurality of content, is classifiedinto at least one content group of the plurality of content groups basedon a user-initiated display instruction.
 5. The playback systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the concurrently displaying the firstviewing area and the second viewing includes displaying, in the firstviewing area, identification items, among a plurality of identificationitems associated with separate content of the plurality of content,which are moved to be viewed in the first viewing area according to auser-initiated display instruction.
 6. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by a processor of an information terminal, cause the processorto perform a process comprising: concurrently displaying, on a displayscreen of the information terminal, a first viewing area and a secondviewing area, wherein, the first viewing area is reversibly switchedbetween displaying different sets of identification items associatedwith different content groups of a plurality of content groups, eachcontent group being associated with a particular set of content of aplurality of content; and the second viewing area displays, concurrentlywith the first viewing area reversibly switching between displayingdifferent sets of identification items associated with different contentgroups of the plurality of content groups, a selected set ofidentification items in the second viewing area, the selected set ofidentification items associated with a set of selected content, theselected content being selected from one or more content groupsaccording to a selecting operation performed on one or moreidentification items displayed in the first viewing area; transmitplayback control information to a display device based on receiving auser-initiated playback instruction input, the playback controlinformation indicating playback settings; transmit the selected contentcorresponding to the selected set of identification items to the displaydevice subsequently to transmitting the playback control information;transmit a playback instruction associated with the selected content tothe display device based on receiving a notification from the displaydevice indicating that the transmitted selected content has beenreceived and stored at the display device, such that the display deviceverifies that the selected content is capable of being played back basedon the playback control information; and display a verification result,on the display screen of the information terminal, based on receivingverification result information from the display device, theverification result information indicating that the display device hasverified that the selected content is capable of being played back basedon the playback control information.
 7. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 6, whereinconcurrently displaying the first viewing area and the second viewingarea includes displaying the selected set of identification items in thesecond viewing area in an arrangement corresponding to a sequence ofselection of the selected set of identification items from one or moreidentification items displayed in the first viewing area.
 8. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 6,wherein, the process further includes storing the selected set ofidentification items storage device; and displaying the selected set ofidentification items includes, reading the selected set ofidentification items from the storage device upon starting of executionof the instructions; and displaying the selected set of identificationitems read from the storage device in the second viewing area.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 6,wherein at least one content, of the plurality of content, is classifiedinto at least one content group of the plurality of content groups basedon a user-initiated display instruction.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 6, wherein theconcurrently displaying the first viewing area and the second viewingarea includes displaying, in the first viewing area, identificationitems, among a plurality of identification items associated withseparate content of the plurality of content, which are moved to beviewed in the first viewing area according to a user-initiated displayinstruction.
 11. A playback control method, performed by playback systemincluding a display device and an information terminal configured tocommunicate with the display device, the playback control methodcomprising: concurrently displaying, on a display screen of theinformation terminal, a first viewing area and a second viewing area,wherein, the first viewing area is reversibly switched betweendisplaying different sets of identification items associated withdifferent content groups of a plurality of content groups, each contentgroup associated with a particular set of content of a plurality ofcontent, and the second viewing area displays, concurrently with thefirst viewing area reversibly switching between displaying differentsets of identification items associated with different content groups ofthe plurality of content groups, a selected set of identification itemsin the second viewing area, the selected set of identification itemsassociated with a set of selected content, the selected content beingselected from one or more selected content group according to aselecting operation performed on one or more identification itemsdisplayed in the first viewing area; transmitting playback controlinformation from the information terminal to the display device based onreceiving a user-initiated playback instruction input at the informationterminal, the playback control information indicating playback settings;transmitting the selected content corresponding to the selected set ofidentification items from the information terminal to the display devicesubsequently to transmitting the playback control information;transmitting a playback instruction associated with the selected contentfrom the information terminal to the display device based on theinformation terminal receiving a notification from the display deviceindicating that the transmitted selected content has been received andstored at the display device; transmitting a verification resultinformation from the display device to the information terminal based onthe display device receiving the playback instruction and verifying thatthe selected content is capable of being played back based on theplayback control information; playing back the selected content at thedisplay device based on the playback settings indicated in the playbackcontrol information, subsequently to the transmitting the verificationresult information; and displaying a verification result, on the displayscreen of the information terminal, based on the verification resultinformation received at the information terminal from the displaydevice.
 12. The playback control method according to claim 11, whereinconcurrently displaying the first viewing area and the second viewingarea includes displaying the selected set of identification items in thesecond viewing area in an arrangement corresponding to a sequence ofselection of the selected set of identification items from one or moreidentification items displayed in the first viewing area.
 13. Theplayback control method according to claim 11, wherein, the playbackcontrol method further includes storing the selected set ofidentification items into a storage device; and displaying the selectedset of identification items includes, reading the selected set ofidentification items from the storage device; and displaying theselected set of identification items read from the storage device in thesecond viewing area.
 14. The playback control method according to claim11, wherein at least one content, of the plurality of content, isclassified into at least one content group of the plurality of contentgroups based on a user-initiated display instruction.
 15. The playbackcontrol method according to claim 11, wherein the concurrentlydisplaying the first viewing area and the second view area includesdisplaying, in the first viewing area, identification items, among aplurality of identification items associated with separate content ofthe plurality of content, which are moved to be viewed in the firstviewing area according to a user-initiated display instruction.
 16. Theplayback control method according to claim 11, further comprising:transmitting the selected content corresponding to the selected set ofidentification items from the information terminal to the displaydevice.